Mark Hunter MP

Minister for Childcare promises a review as Mark Hunter MP and Millie’s Trust call on the Government to introduce a requirement for paediatric first aid for all nursery school staff

December 16, 2014 2:14 PM

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Childcare and Education, Sam Gyimah MP, has promised a national review into nursery school provision of paediatric first aid. The

Mark Hunter MP with Joanne and Dan Thompson, Founders of the Millie's Trust

Review will include a wide consultation of pre-schools on their practices, and on what checks there are on first-aid training providers. The Minister stopped short of a commitment for universal paediatric first aid training for all nursery school staff.

Founders of local charity Millie's Trust, Dan and Joanne Thompson, were in Parliament today to hear their MP, Mark Hunter, make the case for paediatric first aid for all nursery school staff in a Westminster Hall debate. Mark was supported by around twenty other back bench MPs and Minister Sam Gyimah responded on behalf of the Government. Following the debate, the Thompsons and Mark met with the Minister.

Millie Thompson tragically passed away aged 9 months after a choking incident at a nursery school in Cheadle constituency. Following Millie's death her parents, Dan and Joanne Thompson, set up a charity called Millie's Trust as a legacy in their daughter's memory. Millie's Trust provides paediatric first aid training to all those that ask for it and have trained over 7,000 nursery staff and parents. They are also campaigning for all nursery staff to be trained in paediatric first aid.

Commenting after the debate, Mark Hunter said:

'It is great news that the Government will have an official review on current policy and this will give us a real opportunity to change the law for the better.

'I know that the Millie's Trust and all their loyal supporters will join me in taking the opportunity to input into the review and ensuring that the case for change is unanswerable.'

'I look forward to hearing from the Minister shortly about the finer details about the review and ensuring that it is as widespread as possible so that the Government can be in no doubt about the strength of feeling on this issue.'

Joanne Thompson added:

'We are pleased that this legislation has been debated and as far as we are concerned, this is a positive outcome.

'We have known from the beginning that was never going to be an easy road , today has just been another stepping stone and we were encouraged by the fact the government want Dan and I are take part in the National Review and we will keep fighting on behalf of parents everywhere.'